Modern, urban and funky floral is how Stacy K. Ercan describes her aesthetic, which can be seen inside the florist's new Park Avenue retail space.
The 31-year-old owner of Stacy K Floral (www.stacykfloral.com) opened the shop in August in the former Edgerton Floral Co. space at 151 Park Ave., but actually started her business six years ago. "I just wanted a place for people to come and see what I'm really capable of," she said. "It was to have a space that people could feel, touch and see what I could create — not everyone is a visual person, so it helps me articulate my design."
Ercan said she invested approximately $15,000 to renovate the space with new drywall, lighting and a grooved metal ceiling. The modern, minimalist interior of the building is dotted with her colorful floral arrangements.
Stacy K Floral sells everything from $20 bouquets to $300 wedding centerpieces, as well as vases, handbags, art and sculptures made from various organic materials, and other items.
Ercan was already creating floral arrangements for 50 to 60 events, like weddings, a year, but opened the retail space to expand business. "You work a year, a year and a half with these people creating their event, and then I had no way to do repeat business with them," said Ercan, who added that a couple new customers walk into her store every day.
Ashlee Christopher-Cecere hired Ercan to design floral arrangements for her August wedding, and said she was attracted to Ercan's non-traditional aesthetic.
"She is very unique and modern, very stylish," said the 26-year-old Irondequoit resident. "We really let her run with our ideas and I was floored — she's just that good."
Ercan said she's inspired by the modern floral designs in bigger cities. "There are not a lot of options here for our generation to have something a little funkier and different," she said.
Her penchant for floral was the result of a career placement exam in high school, which also pegged her as a math teacher or guidance counselor.
Ercan picked floriculture merchandising and earned an associate's degree in the program from Alfred State College. Two years ago, she earned a bachelor's in marketing from the State University College at Brockport while working full time at a local florist, in addition to running her own business.
After graduation, she quit the other job and ran her business full time.
Ercan described the growth as "really organic and (the business) just grew through referrals, and I love what I do, so I guess it just came through in my work."
Her work for a local bride was recently aired during a wedding segment on ABC Nightline and the florist's own wedding — which she designed all the floral arrangements for — was featured in the regional WellWed magazine. She said designing her own arrangements brought out even more creativity. "I had no limits," Ercan added.
Although she admits opening a retail space was a risk, Ercan is trying to remain realistic about her business.
"It could not work out," she said. "Or it could be awesome. As I get closer to thinking about having kids, I didn't want my children to ever know that it was a dream and I put it on the side burner. I wanted to make sure I did this."
